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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
loved the multiple narrators and time periods and settings, especially when we were in the netherlands with sara's passages--i studied abroad for a few weeks there and the descriptions in the novel were just so vivid for me because of that! i liked the arty shop talk, but can see how such detail might be slow for some readers. definitely not the light fiction i read more of. i wasn't so wowed that i need to recommend this to everyone i know, but i did enjoy it overall.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I find it hard to convey how much I relished this novel on every level. It’s beautifully written and exquisitely expressed. The three stories are absorbing with well developed characters. There is a distinct sense of time and place in each of the stories - 1630s Amsterdam, 1950s New York, Millennial Sydney. The themes are strong with the art mimicking many - fakery, loneliness, desolation. I enjoyed this so much, if you like something unusual and have an interest in art, I’d encourage you to read it.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a very effective and moving audiobook. It took longer than usual to get into the story, but was well worth hanging in.
favorite passages:
"New Jersey always surprises him, a state known for its turnpikes that should be known for its coastlines and bayside hamlets." (p 99)
"Poverty appeared first in their meals, then in their shoes, and finally in their thoughts and prayers." (p 199)
"'Will it ever go away? The anguish.' 'Not ever, far as I can tell. I just hope the dead feel better about it than we do.'" (p 205)
"New Jersey always surprises him, a state known for its turnpikes that should be known for its coastlines and bayside hamlets." (p 99)
"Poverty appeared first in their meals, then in their shoes, and finally in their thoughts and prayers." (p 199)
"'Will it ever go away? The anguish.' 'Not ever, far as I can tell. I just hope the dead feel better about it than we do.'" (p 205)
This story revolves around 3 different time periods: (1) The 1600's, the life and time of paintings of Sara De Vos, (2) the 1950's of 2 characters intertwined with the painting, and (3) year 2000 showing of the painting and resolution of previously intertwined characters of the 1950's.
Personally, I found the entire story just lacking. It seemed to just drag on. I was waiting a climax to happen to make the story more interesting and it just seemed to fall flat.
Personally, I found the entire story just lacking. It seemed to just drag on. I was waiting a climax to happen to make the story more interesting and it just seemed to fall flat.